King of the Almost

On the third episode of the first season of “The Voice” (NBC), two singers – Casey Weston and Tim Mahoney – “battled” each other by singing the same song as a duet.Â Like most reality contests, there was a little featurette video package showing a combination of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the singers preparing for the battle.

During Tim Mahoney’s interview, he kept referring to himself as the “King of the Almost.”Â Tim Mahoney was referring to his career track as a singer, and how he always ends up “almost” getting a record deal, or “almost” making it in the singing industry.Â He always comes close but never quite hitting the mark.

“King of the Almost” was a title that Tim Mahoney gave himself.Â It was not bestowed onto him by the producers of “The Voice” or by the media.Â He went into the competition branding himself as the “King of the Almost”.

And sure enough, he lost the battle to the less experienced Casey Weston.

This is a lesson on how self-perception creates reality.Â Tim Mahoney basically cursed himself into becoming the “King of the Almost”.Â It became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The truth is, there is no such thing as “almost winning.”Â Almost winning is the same as losing.Â Saying you “almost” did something is the same as saying you didn’t do it at all.Â You either finished, or you didn’t finish.Â You either won, or you didn’t win.Â You either have a record deal, or you don’t.